Interlocking switch and signal apparatus



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

HL TILDE'N.

` Interloo-kingSWiteh and Signal Appamaul'Y N0. 240,054. Patented April12,f188.l.`"""

N. PETERS. PHOTOL|THOGRAPMER. WASHINGTON. D c.

(No Model.) 2 sheets-.sheet 2.

TILD-EN. Interlocking Switch and Signal Apparatus.

NO. 240,054. Patented April 12,1881,

N.PETERS. PHOTO-LITHOGRAFHER. WASHINGTON. D C.

UNITED STATES PATENT GEEICE.

HARVEY TILDEN, OF HVARRISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

INTER-LOCKINGSWITCH AND SIGNAL APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 240,054, dated April12, 1881.

Application filed J une 28, 1880. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HARVEY TILDEN, ofHarrisburg, county ofDauphin, State of Pennsylvania, have invented ordiscovered a new and useful Improvement in Interlocking;

Switch and Signal Apparatus; and I do here` Fig. 2 illustrates amodified construction ot' the devices for giving the motion whichleffects preliminary interlocking, as presently to be described. Fi g. 3is a sectional viewlengthwise through the rotative shell of the handleand an elevation ofthe devices within, but to an enlarged scale. Fig. 4is a vertical sectional view through the axial line ot' Fig. 3. Fig. 5isa transverse section through the plane ot' the line a" x' ot' Fig. 3.Fig. (i, Sheet 2, is an elevation ofthe machine from the left ot' Fig.1, or from the operators standpoint, certain parts in this ligure, as inFig. l, being broken away, the better to showthe devices beyond. Figs.7, S,\and 9 are detached views, in perspective, ot' interlockingdevices, but to an enlarged scale, the same to be presently ex plained.i

My present invention relates to certain improvements i'n apparatus foractuating railway switches, signals, gates, Ste., by hydraulic power,and for locking in any desired or predetermined position railwayswitches, signals, and gates, and also for interlockingthe operativemechanism thereof, s o that the shitting ot' onemechanism so as tobringa switch, signal, or gate into a desired positiep, shall operate tolock someother operative mechanism which is arranged to actuate someother switch, signal,`` or V gate, whereby the shifting ofthe latter isprevented until such locking mechanism is reversed.

The conditions of use in apparatus of this kind and the generalfunctions to `be performed are so well known bythose skilled in the artthat they need not be here set forth at greater length. l

It is also a part ot' my invention to effect what is known asApreliminary interlocking7 by a construction and operation whichlbelieveto be new. The frame A, ot' any suitable construction, carries atable, A. The front part, A2, ot' the frame is recessed, boxed, orslotted, so as to form Ways or guides in which to` operate, by alongitudinal motion, one or more reciprocating locking-bars, which inthe drawings are lettered and numbered from c' to cia; but in theconstruction of machines of this class the number of such bars may bevaried as `the work to be done may require. On each locking-bar Iarrange one or more interlocking dogs, c c', 85e., each preferably ofrectangular shape, though other form may be employed with reference tosecuring the functions hereinafter set forth.

In a plane sufficiently near to the plane of the bars e e3, 85e., tosecureV the results hereinafter described, I arrange one, two, 0r morevertical interloekinglmrs, b b', &;c., and on each vertical bar l secureone or more grooved shifting blocks or travelers, o c', 85e., each suchblock having a groove, t', Fig. 7, extending diagonally across the faceat an angle of about forty-tive degrees to the direction of motion of Ithe horizontal and vertical bars; or if such bars make other than aright angle with each other, thensuch grooves t' should exactly orapproximately biseetsueh angle. Also, on such vertical bars I arrangedogs s s', 85e., similar to those on the horizontal bars and lettered a.The number ot' vertical bars b should equal in number and correspond inposition with the operating-levers B B', &c., of which I have showntive, though the number may be varied as the work to be done mayrequire. `Each lever plays through a slot in the table A in the usualway, and alongside of a quadrant, q, which is notched," as at gg, at theends of the fore and back uiovemei'llsrot' therlever, also as is usual.The lower end of each lever B ispivoted vto a bracket, D, which. isboltedor otherwisejse'cured to the under side of the table, and a shortarm, BG, extends out from the lower end of each lever, and is jointed bya pivot-pin to the upper end of the corresponding vertical bar b. aAlongside of each bracket D is a sliding plate, D', which isconnected,`bya wrist and IOO slot, d', with the lever, so as to receiveasliding motion therefrom in the direction of its length. In the otherend of the sliding plate D' is a slot, d, which is made straight orhorizontal at each end, but inclined somewhat at its middle part,substantially as shown in Fig. l, the vertical height of. theinclination being equal or about equal to the length of throw or motionwhich it is desired should be given to the valve or valves which controlthe fluid slipply and discharge. Such valve or valves are arranged inthe valve case or cases V V', and wherega double arrangement of valvesis employed they may be arranged to move simultaneously inoppositedirections by connecting their stems 'v with the opposite arms uof a rock-shaft, Q22, supported on a post, V2. To

give both valves a simultaneous motion, connection is made, by a rod,V3, from one arm of the rock-shaft c2 to the slot d of the sliding plateD', a wrist, r3, on the rod entering and playing in the slot. The rodpasses through a hole in a flange, d2, Fig. 6, made ou the bracket D,and such flange also supports the shifting-plate D'. It will thus beseen that by sliding a lever, B, forward or back the correspondingsliding plate D' will also he moved in the direction ofits length, andthe inclined part of the slot d, acting on the wrist '03, will raise andlower the corresponding rod V3 and thereby shift the valves.

As the present machine is chiey designed for use as a part of ahydraulic apparatus, I have shown in the drawings portions of two pipes,P P', of which the one, P, leads from or is connected with any suitableaccumulator or head or other source of hydraulic supply under pressure,and the other, P', leads to any convenient discharge or exhaust. At W, Ihave shown valve-cases for valves by which to shut off the iiuidentirely when necessary, for purposes of repair or for other reasons.For each lever B, vertical bar b, valve-rod V3,

. and their connections, and in direct combinaswitch, signal, or gate isdirectly operated. In

this ease the valve is so constructed that a single motion in onedirection lets on the pressure, cutting off the discharge, so as toshift the switch or raise the signal or gate, and a reverse motion cutsoff the supply and opens the discharge, so as tolet the signal or gatecome down or permit the switch to be thrown back by a spring or othermeans; but with the .double valve arrangement each lever B is intendedto shift a valvular arrangement in V and V', so as to admit uid-pressure through one branch, n', to actuate one switch, signal, or

gate, while at the same time a fluid-pressure previously applied by theopposite motion of the same lever to actuate some other switch, signal,or gate is permitted to escape through another branch pipe, a2, thevalves being properly constructed'and arranged with reference to suchends; or, in order to give a throw in opposite directions to the sameswitch, signal, or gate, the two pipe-connections u n2 may lead to theopposite ends of a double-acting cylinder and be used alternately assupply and discharge pipes, so as iu one adjustment of the lever andvalves to effect a motion of the signal, switch, or gate in onedirection, and by a reverse adjustment or throw to reverse the motionand position of such signal, switch, or gate. Valves and ports suitablefor such work are described in Patent No. 229,341, granted to Guerberand myself June 29, 1880, though valves and ports of other suitableconstruction and adapted to the ends in view may be employed.

Returning', now, to thelocking-bars and the interlocking dogs thereon, Ido not deem it necessary to describe in detail the numerous combinationswhich may be made with the apparatus shown, but will merely indicate themanner of effecting interlocking combinations, which being understood,the constructer or builder skilled in this branch of the arts will haveno difliculty in making such combinations of interlocking parts as thework to be done may require.

Taking first the horizontal locking-bars @15 and e, the dogs thereon, ason all the other bars, may be either tixed or adjustable. Preferablythey are made fixed, and one convenient construction for such purpose isshown in Fig. 8 in enlarged view, where the dog c is shown as made witharectangular hole through it. The bar e5 is passed through the hole,andthe two are secured by a rivet. The similar dogs s, on the vertical barsb b', are arranged in such manner that they may, when properly adjusted,be thrown into and out of engagement with the dogs on thehorizontalbars, the relative positions of such dogs when engaged being representedin Fig. 8, where the dog s on the vertical bar b' is shown as havingsufficient thickness outside of b to lap under the dog a of thehorizontal bar. Also, yfor better illustration, I have shown in Fig. 7,by enlarged view, one of the grooved travelers or blocks, o. A wrist, a,from the corresponding bar e enters and plays in the groove t' in suchmanner that as the block c is raised or lowered by the movement of itsbar b it will shift the wrist fr, and ,with it the horizontal bar e, tothe right or left, as the case may be.

From Fig. 6 it will be seen that the dog a on the horizontal bar 615 andthe dog s on the vertical bar b' are ed gewise in engagement, so thatthe vertical bar b' is locked in position. ln order, now, to unlock thevertical bar b' the operator gives,`in the manner presently to bedescribed, a back stroke or motion to the le- IOC IIO

` the lever B. Also, the same motion brings an-` other dog, co3,edgewise above a dog, s', which is on the vertical bar b4, as a resultof which The lever B in the sys-` 4ver B3. rBhis, of course, raises thevertical bar b3, and the block c thereon causes the wrist fr, which isconnected to the bar 615 and plays in the groove t', to be shifted withthe bar 615 to the right sufliciently far to causethe doga to clear thedog s. The operator then gives to ,the lever B' a backward throw, andthereby raises the vertical bar b suflcieutly far toV and as the latteris thus locked,'it follows that the lever B3 is also looked.

It will also be seen, Vfrom an inspection of Fi g. 6, that thehorizontal bars e5 and 67 carry each a dog, ct a2, which engage eachother by a vertical lapping instead of a horizontal lapping, as before,and that so long as a retains the position shown, a2 and its bar elcannot be shifted to the right, and as e7 is connected, through block o2and dog c3, with the vertical bar b2,it follows that the lever B2 islocked; but the raising of the vertical bar b. as above described,acting through the block c thereon, shifts the horizontal bar e5 totheright, so as to move the dog ct away from i the dog a2 on the bar e7, asa result of which the bar e7 is unlocked, and with it the lever B2,whichris connected with e7 through the grooved block c2` and dog a3. Thelever B2 may now be thrown back, so as, in the manner already set forth,to`

shift the horizontal bar c7 to the right, and thereby bring the dog a2thereon up against the previously-moved dog a', and thereby lock thelever B4 is locked. teni here specially represented is connected with avalvular arrangement which, when the lever is thrown back, lets off thepressure and brings all or any desired number of signals to danger. Inorder, then, to lock all other conV flicting connections-which in thisinstance we may suppose to be made with levers B B4- I connect thecorresponding vertical bar b, by the grooved block c3, with a horizontalbar, e',

vand arrange on such bar e the ldesirednumber of dogs a4 aF in suchposition that when, by the raising of the vertical barb, the horizontalbar e is shifted to the right, such dogs a4 a74 will be brought intoengagement with the dogs s2 S5, which are secured to the vertical bars bb4, as a result of which the levers B' B4 will be locked in a forwardposition.

Each of the blocks c, c', Src., maybe grooved *on the,,back faces as onthe front, and like the blocks c, c', Src., are grooved on their backfaces, such grooves may be-incliued in the same direction as the frontgrooves, t', in which case the back horizontal bars connected therewithwill move in the same directions as the front bars; or the back groovesmay run in a reverse direction or crosswise of the front grooves, asillustrated by the dotted lines in the block c2, Figs. 6 and 9, in whichcase the back "horizontal bars actuated thereby will move in a directionthe reverse of the front b'ars with each stroke of the lever. With thisexplanation the skilled mechanic will understand how to vary or changethe number, forni, and relative. arrangements of blocks c and dogs a ands with reference to each other, and to horizontal and vertical bars, soas to make any desired combinations in locking and un` locking, as thework to be done may require'.

It will be understood that unlocking is to be effected by reversing theorder employed in locking, though for most purposes locking andunlocking go on simultaneously, as is usual in the art. Y

I will next describe the manner in which I effect what is termedpreliminary interlock- ,y

of rotative motion on its own axis, say, about@ a one-eighth turn, moreor less. On the inside of the shell handle, and opposite to the catch#IOO IOS

rod It, I make aspiral groove, by means of two spiral ribs, fr', and onthe catch-rod E, I make a teat, wrist, or spline, r2, and of such sizeandA form and in such position that it may enter and move readily in thegroove formed by the ribs r'. It will then be seen that the operator,

by taking hold of the handle B7 and giving it a one-eighth turn, canscrew up the catch-rod almost instantly, so as to withdraw its lower endfrom the notch q', and that then the lever is free to be moved. Oncompleting the lever stroke or motion he may rotate the handle back,though ordinarily this will not be necessary, since the screw having asteep pitch, the spring may be made sufticientl y powerful for thatpurpose. As soon as the lever B commences, say, itsfback stroke, itbegins to raise the corresponding vertical locking-bar b, and thereby inthe manner described shift the corresponding horizontal bar, and indoing so bring the dogs cron such bar so far past or lapping onto thedogs of some other bar that the desired lookin g is practicallyeffectedthat is to say, the locking is effected in a practical sense assoon `as the edges of the dogs or block begin to lap one onto anotheredgewise; ibut this,

IIO

IZO

which I term preliminary interlocking, is effected in part, at least,before the valve-rodV3 begins its stroke, since during the first part ofthe motion of the lever a straight or horizontal part of the slot d issliding along on the Wrist v3; but as soon as this preliminaryinterlocking is effected the wrist c3 begins to be engaged by theinclined part of the slot d, and then, but not till then, motion isimparted to the valves in the valve-case below, such as to cause theduid-pressure to become operative in shifting a switch-signal or gate,or permitting the same to be done. By the time the inclined part of theslot d has traversed the wrist o3, so that the latter shall be at theupper end of the incline, the valves will have received theirentire orcomplete motion or throw, and allowing time for the duid-pressure toact, the shifting of switch, signal, or gate will be complete.

The rest of the motion of the lever B, whereby the upper horizontal orstraight part of the slot d is caused to traversethe Wrist c3, producesno effect on switch, signal, or gate, but simply completes the unlockingof such connections-as ought to be unlocked preliminary to some otheradjustment or combination; or, in other words,it takes certain ofthedogs on one bar entirely out of an edgewisc engagement with such dogs onanother bar as at the beginning of the lever-stroke were interlockedtherewith. Hence my improved apparatus secures not only preliminarylocking, which is practically an important feature of apparatus of thisclass, but it also secures what may be termed subsequent unlocking, bywhich I mean the unlocking of such combinations or devices as ought tobe unlocked after, and only after, those devices have been shifted, theshifting of which ought to precede the shifting of the other devices sounlocked-meaning by devices as last used a switch, signal, or gate; andthis subsequent unlocking, as I use the term herein, is effected by andduring the latter part of the stroke or motion of the lever, which, inits previous stroke or motion, has eifected'the desired shiftin g orsetting of switch or signal. On the forward or reverse stroke of thelever B the operation is in all respects exactly reversed, thesubsequent unlocking of the previous or back stroke now being orconstituting preliminaryinterlocking, and the previous preliminaryinterlocking being now subsequent unlocking, and the valves beingreversed asthe wrist c3 slides down the moving incline of the slot d, sothat the shifting ot' switches, signals, or gate is effected at agiutermediate point of the operation, as before.

In the use of the terms horizontal and vertical as applied to the movingparts designated, I do not mean to use them in an absolute, but only ina relative, sense, and as related to each other, or in the sense ofcrossing bars exactly or approximately horizontal and vertical to eachother; Aand under the terms dogs and blocks I include vany known devicessuitable for the purpose' of engaging one with another, and disengagingone from another, on the proper movement or shifting ot' the bar or barswhich carry and actuate them; also, where Ihave indicated dogs, bars,&c., as a class by a single letter, as a e, &c., I include the saineletters as numbered 1 2, 85e.

In Fig. 2 I have shown a modified form of apparatus for giving` to thevalve-rod V3 the motions described. Inthis figure the slide D' has theinclined part of the slot d of Fig. l, and the last motion for whichprovision is made in Fig. l by the straight or horizontal end parts ofthe slot is here provided for by the use of a sector, on, to which theslide D is pivoted, and which itselfl is to be pivoted to the bracket Din such position that the wristpin d will operate on or over the sectoras follows:

The sector' has threefaces, z z z2, slightly curved, the middle onebeing a little lower than the other two. The wrist-pin d at thebeginning of the lever-stroke slides along or clear ot' the surfaces zz', so as not to move the sector mnor the plate D until it comes to theshoulder at the end of z2. lt. engages that shoulder and shifts thesector far enough to cause the slot l to traverse the wrist thereinuntil the wrist reaches the upper end ofthe incline, with the functionalresult already stated. The sector m has by that time been so far tiltedover that the pin d! clears or rides over the face z2 during the rest ofthe stroke of the lever. With a reverse stroke ofthe lever the reverseeffect takes place. The pin d rides or clears the surfaces z and zwithout moving the sector, engages the shoulder at the end of z, andtilts the sector back, so as to cause the slot d to traverse the wristuntil the wrist comes to thelower end ot' the incline, `and then the pind rides over the face ot' z without moving the sector until the levercompletes its back stroke; but-in respect to these connections betweenthe lever and valve-rod I do not limit myself, since other suitableconnection may be employed, such as will make provision forthe moving ofthe valves at a point intermediately between the beginning and theending of the locking or unlocking of the interlocking devices; also, inso far as relates to the use of the hydraulic apparatus described, otherforms of interlocking apparatus may be employed.

While I have described this as a hydraulic apparatus, many featuresofthe invention, and especially the sl'lifting, the interlocking, andunlocking parts, may be applied in a pneumatic apparatus, wherein areservoir of compressed air shall take the place of the hydraulic head,`and suitable air cocks or valves shall be substituted for the valvesreferred to, and the valve-rod V3, or its mechanical equivalent, bearranged to actuate, substantiallyin the manner described, such aircocks' or valves; and hence, for the purposes of the present case Idesignate such hydraulic apparatus or such substitute air apparatusgenerally as iuidpressure apparatus, the construction of appaf ratusessuitable for the uses thus designated being well known in the art. `Iclaim herein as my inventionl. As a means for operating a catch-rod, a

`rotative handle, BQarranged on the lever to which the catch-rod isapplied, and connected `by a spiral teat or rib and groove with thecatchrod, substantially as set forth.

2. In a {luid-pressure interlocking-switch and signal apparatus havinginterlocking bars which cross each other, the combination of a leverand valve-rod with suitablydntcrposed connections of such lever andvalve-rod,where bythe initial movement of the lever shall shift 4. In afluid-pressure apparatus for shifting or moving a signal, switch, orgate, the combination of an interlocking mechanism operative by a levermotion to effect interlocking in advance of the application of thehuid-pressure, a valve-connection which shall receive its proper throwfrom a continuation of the same lever motion before the completion ofthemovement of the interlocking devices, and an unlocking mechanismoperative by a still further movement of the same lever in unlockingafter thc fluidpressure connection has received 'its proper throw,substantially as set forth.

5. Side bearing dogs a a2, arranged on bars e5 el, in combination withvertical and operat- 4o in g bars b', substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

HARVEY TILDEN.

Witnesses A R. H. WHITTLESEY, C. L. PARKER.'

